Julie Bank steps down as executive director of Animal Care & Control

Julie Bank, who was named executive director of New York City Animal Care & Control in 2010, announced last week she is stepping down. The beleaguered nonprofit organization is now searching for is twelfth executive director in less than 20 years. (Pearl Gabel for New York Daily News)

Being the executive director of New York City Animal Care and Control might be one of the toughest — and most thankless — jobs in the business.

Julie Bank's resignation last week means the beleaguered nonprofit organization, created less than 20 years ago, will be now be searching for executive director No. 12.

The under-funded, over-burdened AC&C contracts with the city Health Department to handle around 35,000 stray and homeless animals from all five boroughs every year. Critics are plentiful. Donations are skimpy.

The strong hand of the city prevents the nonprofit from having the autonomy of other rescue groups.

And unlike other shelters that routinely turn away animals, AC&C is required to accept every unwanted animal that comes through its doors.

Bank said she was leaving AC&C for family reasons. But sources said she was leaving at least in part because she was frustrated by the lack of city funding and support.

"It just doesn't seem like the system is set up properly," said one insider, who noted adoptions have increased in recent years.

Last week, City Councilman Vincent Gentile fired off a letter to Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, who also chairs the AC&C board, asking him to use his dual positions to change the broken system.

Bank, like many of her predecessors, became a lightning rod for criticism from animal advocates. They complain that AC&C is quick to euthanize unwanted animals and has wrongly fired passionate volunteers and rescue groups for not following bureaucratic protocol.

There are just three full-service animal shelters in the city, housed in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island.

A decade-long plan to build shelters in Queens and the Bronx were scrapped last year. In return, the city promised to pump more money into AC&C.

According to the Health Department, the group's annual budget will jump 77% by June 2014 to over $12 million.

The money will help boost staffing by 100 people. Animal receiving centers in Brooklyn and Queens will increase their limited hours and services. The city also promised to hire additional field officers who work out on the street.

Animal advocates and rescuers are skeptical and are pushing the City Council to hold an oversight hearing to press the Health Department for details.

"Never has an AC&C executive director been either willing or able to challenge the Department of Health's stranglehold over the shelter system," said Koslow, who has criticized Bank for agreeing to budget cuts in order to appease the city's demand for lower operating costs.

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Bank was unavailable for comment on Friday. In a memo to staff and volunteers, she said she was leaving with "a heavy heart."

AC&C "is well on its way to become the organization we all want it to be," she wrote. "Even when there is adversity you stand strong, and proud, and continue to work as a team towards caring for lives that need us."